The _striking feature_ in those who have _practised customary breathing exercises_ is an _undue lateral expansion_ of the lower ribs, when several or all of the above defects are present. This excessive expansion gives an undue width to the lower part of the chest, and there are thousands of young girls who present quite a matronly appearance in consequence. The breathing exercises imparted by teachers of singing are particularly effective in bringing about this undesirable and harmful condition. The guiding principle that should be invariably kept in mind by both teacher and pupil is to secure, with the minimum of effort, perfect use of the component parts of the mechanisms concerned in respiration and vocalisation. Then, sooner or later, adequate mobility, power, speed, absolute control, and artistic manipulation must follow. Most people—teachers as well as pupils—when thinking of or practising breathing exercises, have one fixed idea, viz., that of causing a _great expansion_ of the chest, whereas its proper and adequate _contraction_ is equally important. There are, indeed, many cases in which the expiratory movement calls for more attention than the inspiratory. Careful observation will show that those who take breath by the “sniffing” or “gasping” mode of breathing always experience great difficulty with breath-control in speech and song, or during the performance of breathing exercises. This remains true whether the air is expelled through the mouth or nasal passages, and it is due to the imperfect use of the thoracic mechanism, and the consequent loss of mechanical advantage already referred to at the end of the inspiration. The natural and powerful air-controlling power is therefore absent, and its absence causes undue approximation of the vocal reeds, and probably of the ventricular bands in the endeavour to prevent the escape of air, which air, when once released under these conditions, is thereafter inadequately and imperfectly controlled. In vocal use there is considerable increase in this lack of breath-control, the upper chest being more rapidly and forcibly depressed during the vocalisation. This is not a matter for surprise, for if a mechanical advantage is essential to the proper expansion of the thorax for the intake of air, it is equally essential to the controlling power during the expiration, and if during the expiration the upper chest is falling, it clearly proves that the advantage indicated is not present. III THE PRACTICE OF RESPIRATORY RE-EDUCATION HABIT IN RELATION TO PECULIARITIES AND DEFECTS “If we contemplate the method of Nature, we see that everywhere vast results are brought about by accumulating minute actions.”—HERBERT SPENCER.